The Economist had two great articles last week on two of may favorite themes in renewable energy, which I missed getting to Charles in time for  The Week in Cleantech.  Both deal with modernizing the grid to deal with the vagaries of wind.  The first is an in depth look at electricity transmission via High Voltage DC, a subject I recently wrote about in an article on ABB.  The second dealt with compressed air energy storage (CAES) which is the second cheapest way to store electricity, after pumped hydro.  Unfortunately, I have not found good ways for the stock market investor to take advantage of the potential of pumped hydro, or CAES.  

Large Scale Electricity Storage

It is possible to make investments in energy storage, however.  While not as inexpensive as pumped hydropower or CAES, some utility scale batteries have the advantage that they are small and environmentally benign enough to install at substations in densely packed cities.  There has been a recent spate of articles (USA Today, IEEE Spectrum, The News Journal (DE), State Journal (WV)) about utilities installing the already technologically mature Sodium-Sulfur (NaS) batteries [.pdf] at substations to meet peak loads and delay costly substation upgrades.  

Sodium-Sulfur Batteries

Despite the fact that NaS batteries cost as much as coal plants that can supply the same amount of power, they have the gigantic advantage that it's impossible to add new coal plants inside a city, precisely where the power is needed.  This power delivered at the right place and the right time extremely valuable.  Hence utility scale batteries, west- or southwest-facing PV (depending on the local load shape), and demand side management are also extremely valuable resources to urban utilities.  The traditional method of dealing with increased electric demand has historically been to build more power plants and transmission, but increasingly dense urban areas, environmental restrictions, and NIMBYism make this cost prohibitive or outright impossible in some cases.

Utility scale NaS batteries are made by Japanese manufacturer NGK Insulators (TSE:53330, NGKIF), which unfortunately does not have a North American listing or ADR.  However, if you have enough capital for a nearly $30,000 purchase not to unbalance your portfolio, you can buy a round lot on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. I've had a limit order in for a couple of weeks in one of my managed accounts, but the stock has been going bonkers, and I don't like to chase high-flying stocks.

Vanadium Redox Batteries

A more affordable (and riskier) investment option for the North American investor are Vanadium Redox Batteries, which are being commercialized by VRB Power Systems (TSE:VRB.V or VRBPF.PK), which both Charles and I have mentioned before (here, here, and especially here.)  VRB Power's stock price has been depressed recently due to recent stock dilution.  Unlike NGK, they have a single line of business in VRB applications, and are not yet profitable.

Vanadium redox batteries (VRB) are flow batteries, with electrolyte separate from the electrode, as opposed to NaS and most batteries we are familiar with in our daily lives, where the electrolyte is bound up with the anode an cathode (NGK assumes their batteries will be good for 2,500 cycles, while VRB expects theirs to last 10,000 cycles before refurbishment.).  This allows VRB batteries to scale up to much larger storage capacities than conventional batteries.  In addition, liquid electrolytes do not have memory, which gives them the potential for a much longer lifetime and per cycle cost than conventional batteries with refurbishment of the electrodes.  VRB batteries are also smaller and lighter (per kWh; in practice they are likely to be larger due to much higher capacity), and have comparable cost per unit power (kW.)   

Comparisons and Applications

NaS batteries have the advantage of extremely quick response time, making them more suitable for power quality applications (smoothing short term spikes in demand).   I believe this, along with their better round trip efficiency, is why NaS batteries currently seem to have the edge with utilities seeking to delay transmission and distribution upgrades.   AEP recently installed a $2.5 million, 7.2 MWh battery ($350 per kWh capacity);  VRB says their systems are usually priced from $350-$600 per kWh, with the lower prices per kWh available for the larger installations.

On the other hand, NaS batteries must be maintained at 300 °C, while VRB systems work at room temperature, and require extremely low maintenance, facts which should give them an edge at remote locations such as wind farms.  This fits with the fact that many of their early sales have been to remote locations such as remote islands, off-grid telecom, and solar powered demonstrations.

The last is an intriguing new application which might allow some of the Net-Zero Energy communities being planned to cut the utility umbilical cord and become truly energy independent.  I mentioned this concept to a developer of a net-zero energy community in Arvada, CO, whom I met at the Western Governor's Association Energy Efficient Homes Conference.  The economics may not work for him, but I doubt it will be long before we hear about the first true Carbon Free Community.

DISCLOSURE: Tom Konrad  and/or his clients have positions in these companies mentioned here: VRB.

DISCLAIMER: The information and trades provided here are for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to buy or sell any of these securities. Investing involves substantial risk and you should evaluate your own risk levels before you make any investment. Past results are not an indication of future performance. Please take the time to read the full disclaimer here.

Posted by Tom Konrad at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Altair Nanomaterials (ALTI) announced it has completed a safety testing cycle for lithium ion battery products that represents a significant step forward in the effort to develop lithium ion batteries that are safe enough to be used in electric-powered automobiles.

Although lithium ion batteries are the predominant power source for cell phones, laptop computers and many other small electronic devices, safety concerns related to the potential for explosion, typically caused by charging malfunctions or extremes of temperature, have so far proved to be a vexing obstacle to using lithium ion batteries to power electric and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

In order to address these safety concerns and, by doing so, help to speed the deployment of powerful, efficient electric vehicles (EVs) and HEVs for mass usage, Altairnano has invented and developed a nano-structured negative electrode material called nano Lithium Titanium Oxide, or nLTO, that replaces the graphite used in "standard" lithium ion batteries with safe, nanomaterials. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 07:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ultralife Batteries Inc (ULBI) has received an order valued at approximately $1.9 million for its new BA-5390A battery with state-of-charge indicator from the U.S. Defense Department. Deliveries are expected to be completed this quarter. This is the second order against the company's Next Gen II, Phase IV five-year battery contract. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 01:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arotech Corporation (ARTX) announced that its Electric Fuel subsidiary has been awarded a development contract to develop a high energy density rechargeable Lithium Battery and Smart Charger from a world leading supplier of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). The batteries and chargers will be used to power the company's man-packed, hand-launched UAV, used for close range, over-the-hill reconnaissance missions. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 08:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

VRB Power Systems (VRB.V) has completed the assembly and has commissioned the 30kW x 2 hour system for the South Carolina Air National Guard (SCANG). This system will be used for back-up power and to provide power quality enhancement for a tactical radar system in the event of grid disruption. The SCANG VRB-ESS will also be evaluated for widespread adoption in other military applications. This unit is awaiting final delivery instructions from the customer and is expected to ship shortly.

Tim Hennessy, CEO of VRB Power said "This is an important milestone for VRB Power. The delivery of this first 10kWh unit signifies the commencement of the product's rollout plan for the upcoming year and beyond." [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 08:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The ChangeWave Alliance has produced a detailed look at the key trends for fuel cells and future battery technology. I have been given permission to post the abstract of this 13 page report.

Overview: This report focuses on key trends in fuel cells and hydrogen, along with battery technologies. The findings are from the Alliance's most recent alternative energy survey, completed February 10, 2006. A total of 121 members working in the alternative energy industry participated, including 25 working in companies involved with Fuel Cells.

Bottom Line: Respondents working in alternative energy believe that over the next two years the Fuel Cell sector will experience the biggest new technology breakthroughs in the industry. Moreover, when we look out five years, respondents also believe that Fuel Cells will experience the most rapid economic growth of any alternative energy sector.

We asked industry respondents to identify the fastest growing mid-tier companies within Fuel Cells for the next 12-24 months. We also asked respondents who work exclusively in Fuel Cells, to identify the company they believe will have the biggest market impact over the next 1-3 years. In both cases, the same three leaders were identified:

Fuel Cell Energy (FCEL)
Energy Conversion Devices (ENER)
Ballard Power (BLDP)

We note that respondents also think Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) will have the biggest market impact in Hydrogen Storage/Distribution and in Battery Technology.

What are the biggest barriers to more rapid adoption of Fuel Cells technology? Three-in-five who work in the Fuel Cell sector say 'The Cost of Fuel Cells is Too High vs. Other Energy Sources.' High Cost was also cited as the biggest barrier to more rapid adoption of hydrogen-related technology.

Where will Fuel Cells have the greatest economic impact over the next 3-5 years? More than half (52%) of respondents who work in Fuel Cell companies believe that it will have the greatest impact in Stationary Power for Buildings.

Here's a further look at additional key findings:

(A) Fuel Cells

• Reasons for Rapid Growth. Respondents who think Fuel Cells will experience the most rapid growth over the next 5 years cited Technology Advances (37%) as the top reason why - followed by Cost of Energy/Short Supply (23%).
• Palladium Seen As Alternative to Platinum. Respondents cited Palladium (28%) as the most viable alternative to the platinum catalysts needed for fuel cell reactions.

(B) Hydrogen Technology

• Leading Hydrogen Packaging Technologies - Metal Hydride Tanks. In terms of packing large quantities of hydrogen in low-weight, low-volume systems, Metal Hydride Tanks (28%) are seen as having the best chance of succeeding in the marketplace over the next 3-5 years.
• Electrolysis of Water vs. Steam Reformation. By a 2-to-1 margin, respondents also believe Electrolysis of Water (50%) will be the number one trend in hydrogen production for the next 3-5 years, with Steam Reformation of Methane/Natural Gas (24%) ranked second.

(C) Battery Technology

• Lithium-Ion Polymer - Tops in Battery Technology. Fuel cell industry respondents rank Lithium-ion polymer (32%) and Lithium-ion (12%) as the battery technologies that will experience the highest growth rate over the next 3-5 years.

Summary of Key Findings

Fuel Cell Sector Well Positioned for Future Growth

Which Sector will Experience Biggest New Technology Breakthroughs in Next 12-24 Months?
Fuel Cells (27%, up 5-pts), Hybrid/Electric (27%, unchanged)

Which will Experience Most Rapid Economic Growth - Next 5 Years
Fuel Cells (25%), Solar (22%), Hybrid/Electric (20%)

Reasons for Rapid Growth in Fuel Cells
Technology Advances (37%), Cost of Energy/Short Supply (23%)

Where Will Fuel Cells Have Greatest Economic Impact in Next 3-5 Years?
Stationary Power for Buildings (52%), Aerospace/Military (24%), Automobiles (16%)

Fastest Growing Fuel Cell Areas
Proton Exchange/ PEM (44%), Solid Oxide (20%), Direct Methanol (16%)

Biggest Barriers to Rapid Adoption
Cost of Fuel Cells Too High vs. Other Energy Sources, Complexity of Technology/ Too Many Technical Hurdles Still Ahead

Leading Companies

Fastest Growing Fuel Cell Companies - Next 2 Years
Fuel Cell Energy (33%), Energy Conversion Devices (17%), Ballard Power (14%)

Biggest Market Impact - Next 3 Years

Fuel Cells
Fuel Cell Energy (28%), Energy Conversion Devices (24%), Ballard Power (24%)

Hydrogen
Energy Conversion Devices (24%), Ballard Power (11%)

Battery Technologies
Energy Conversion Devices (45%)

Posted by Mark Anderson at 09:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

VRB Power Systems (VRB.V) announced that Magnetek's Telecom Power Systems Group (TPS) has entered into a Letter of Intent to purchase eighty 5kW VRB Energy Storage Systems to be sold to telecom market operators in the U.S.

VRB Power will supply the core-technology for the VRB-ESS units, which will generally include the overall design, cell stacks, electrolyte, tanks and the balance of the battery system, whereas TPS will be responsible for supplying the electronics, including the rectifier and controller, and assembling and integrating the components into finished VRB-ESS units. TPS will market and sell these VRB-ESS units to telecom market operators in North America. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 05:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

EnerSys (ENS) announced today that it has purchased a controlling interest in Modular Energy Devices, Inc. (ModEnergy), a development stage company. ModEnergy produces large format lithium-ion rechargeable batteries utilized in aerospace and defense applications as well as specialized standby power and commercial applications.

ModEnergy, based in Westerly, Rhode Island, has developed a proprietary method for assembling lithium-ion cells into battery systems that are designed to be safer and more cost effective than competitive products currently available. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 07:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Active Power Inc (ACPW) announced that it has received an order for its new CoolAir DC product from one of the leading producers of photovoltaic modules in Europe.

CoolAir DC uses thermal energy and compressed air to provide power, can be cycled regularly without a loss in performance and is environmentally friendly. By using solar energy to heat the thermal storage unit (TSU) and compress air in the storage tanks, energy can be captured and used at a later time. [ more ]

The share price of ACPW has recently retested the trendline and I will be adding to my position in the Marketocracy mutual fund this morning.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 07:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ultralife Batteries Inc (ULBI) has received an order valued at approximately $2.7 million for its new BA-5390A battery with state-of-charge indicator from the U.S. Defense Department. Deliveries are expected to begin this quarter and be completed in the second quarter. This is the first order against the company's Next Gen II, Phase IV five-year battery contract and is unrelated to the company's recently announced order for its standard BA-5390 battery. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Altair Nanomaterials (ALTI) announced that its battery research and development team successfully completed a testing program for lithium ion battery cells containing Altairnano's nano-structured lithium titanate electrode materials.

"The test results demonstrated that the performance of these lithium ion battery cells exceed the system-level power requirements set forth by the U.S. Council for Automotive Research FreedomCAR Energy Storage System Performance Goals for hybrid electric vehicle (HEVs), as well as those requirements published by major U.S. automakers," said Evan House, Ph.D., Program Director, Altairnano's Advanced Materials & Power Systems business unit. [ more ]

These batteries demonstrate a useable state-of-charge range twice that of conventional nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries presently used in hybrid electric vehicles. The stock was up over 40% yesterday on this news. The stock is giving back some of these gains today on the general market weakness.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cobasys announced today that they will provide their advanced NiMHax® Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery systems for GM's 2007 Saturn VUE Green Line SUV which will be made available to consumers in the summer of 2006. [ more ]

Cobasys is a joint venture partnership between Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER) and Chevron Technology Ventures LLC, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (CVX)

ENER gapped up this morning on this news and has been trading nicely for the last couple of months. However, it has run into upside resistance at the 52 week high. The stock is currently over-bought and I would be a buyer of this stock below $40.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (HYBT) has inked a deal with Frito Lay to provide Hybrid Technologies' Lithium vehicles as part of their fleet sales program.

Frito Lay has agreed to purchase and take delivery of the Lithium Mini Cooper model as well as the Daimler Chrysler Smart Car Lithium version. The first deliveries are scheduled for the first quarter of 2006. These vehicles will be part of Frito Lay's Hybrid fleet and the corporation's commitment to "green philosophy" as well as its well known philosophy of working with the latest in American technology. [ more ]

You would have thought that Frito Lay would have gone for a Bio-Diesel solution :-)

Posted by Mark Anderson at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Millennium Cell Inc (MCEL) announced that it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Program contract by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command. The Company will assess the feasibility of operating its hydrogen battery technology in conjunction with a 5kW PEM-based fuel cell using water containing a variety of impurities. Preliminary tests conducted by Millennium Cell suggest salt water and other non-potable water may be adequate for use with the Company's Hydrogen on Demand® technology. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Altair Nanomaterials (ALTI) announced that it has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Indiana Advanced Energy Technologies Program (AETP) initiative. The grant funding must be used to manufacture products containing products that are not currently in the U.S. market, and that are above industry standard in terms of energy efficiency (e.g. hybrid automobiles, fuel cells) and/or incorporate an innovative technology, such as nanotechnology, that allows the product to save energy. [ more ]

The grant money will be used for test equipment for the manufacturing of lithium ion cells, batteries, and battery packs. The stock gapped open this morning with a quick 5% gain on the news but has since pulled back.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) receive $1.5 million from the 2006 budget of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for continued development and demonstration of its bipolar wafer-cell Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery energy storage program.

The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2006 Energy & Water Development bill, which was passed by the U.S. Congress today and is expected to be signed by President Bush within the next week. The 2006 funding, will bring DOE's total investment in the development of the bipolar wafer-cell NiMH battery, in the energy storage program, to approximately $6.5 million. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I purchased shares in
Altair Nanomaterials (ALTI) this morning for both my personal portfolio and also the mutual fund. ALTI is a holding company that specializes in nanomaterials and also contains a life sciences division. The materials company has research in high performance batteries, fuel cells, and photovoltaics.

Altair announced earnings today and the stock is up on the morning trading.

Revenue Increases 68 Percent for Third Quarter and 230 Percent for Nine-Month Period
"An increase in revenue of 230 percent for the first three quarters of 2005 is representative of the significant progress Altair has made over the last nine months," said Altair Nanotechnologies Chief Executive Officer and President Alan J. Gotcher, Ph.D. "We are experiencing solid business development progress and opportunities in both our Performance Material and Life Sciences divisions in several target markets. We expect these opportunities to mature and to produce recurring and sustainable revenues." [ more ]

Today they reported a net loss of $0.04 which is compared to a net loss of $0.03 for the comparable quarter. The increase in this loss is attributed to an increase in investments for new contract R&D projects. The company has been performing well and the number of these new R&D contracts has been increasing.

• Congress to Fund $2.5 Million in Energy and Water Development Appropriations for Altair Nanotechnologies' Nanoscience Research
• Altair Nanotechnologies, University of Nevada Research Foundation and Alternative Energy Consortium Receive $2.5 Million Grant From U.S. Department of Energy

I started a 1/3 position in ALTI today with an average purchase price of $2.54.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a registered investment advisor. The information and trades that I provide here are for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to buy or sell any of these securities. Investing involves substantial risk and you should evaluate your own risk levels before you make any investment. Past results are not an indication of future performance. Please take the time to read the full disclaimer here.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) and In-Q-Tel, a private, not-for-profit venture group funded by the Central Intelligence Agency, today announced a new technology development agreement for advanced rechargeable bipolar lithium ion (BPLI) batteries.

The resulting BPLI battery is intended to exhibit both high-specific energy and high-specific power, due to the efficiency of the EEEI bipolar cell and battery design. In previous work, EEEI has demonstrated BPLI cells with a specific energy greater than 200 Wh/kg and an energy density greater than 400 Wh/l. The development will be conducted at EEEI's battery manufacturing facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado. [ more ]

In other recent news, In-Q-Tel recently purchased shares in EEEI to help fund research and development to demonstrate the incorporation of Bipolar Li-ion Cell Technology into Bipolar Lithium Ion Batteries. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 08:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Distributed Energy Systems Corp (DESC) has been profiled on Forbes.com.

Kenneth Reid, editor of Spear's Security Industry Analyst, recommends buying shares of Distributed Energy Systems. The Wallingford, Conn.-based company creates and delivers a variety of products for the alternative and decentralized energy markets.
. . .
The story of Distributed Energy and other alternative-energy players is a long-term one, say bulls like Reid. With the surge in oil prices this year, the story is resonating with investors. Distributed Energy shares are up 333% in the past year, trading around $8 after hitting a 52-week (intraday) high of $8.09 on Sept. 27. [ more ]

Forbes also has a short DESC video that gives some additional information about this stock.

My take on DESC is that it is a great company to own. I have owned it in the past and sold it with a nice profit in early August. I purposely tried to liquidate the majority of my positions in August in anticipation of blogging about all my portfolio purchases. Many of the names I owned are back on my watchlist and I have been looking for a good re-entry point for a long term hold on this stock. It is currently sitting at a 52 week high and it showing signs that it getting over bought. The Forbes profile hit the net early this morning, and DESC is currently trading above $8 pre-market. Right now I will continue to watch the stock and it is one my short list for purchase. I just want to wait a couple of days to see how the stock price action behaves.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 09:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) announced the delivery of a Bipolar Battery System to the U.S. Army Communications and Electronics Command (CECOM), to be tested and demonstrated under the Silent Watch Program.

The EEEI bipolar battery system was built under the Company's contract with the U.S. Army Manufacturing Technology (Mantech) Program. The EEEI system, comprised of three 1kW modules, could be operated individually or as a complete system with a 3kW power capability, which would provide on-board vehicle electrical power to operate in Silent Watch Mode for three hours compared to the existing lead acid capability of 45 minutes. [ more ]

Technically this release will gather more defense sector interest for this company than anything to do with alternative energy. But you have to keep in mind that the R&D that goes into these types of projects can also be put towards commercial usage in other electric vehicles.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Motley Fool finally had something good to say about an alternative energy stock. It just so happens to be for one I purchased earlier this morning.

Don't look now, but Energy Conversion Devices might just prove to be that rare bird -- an alternative energy play with actual products and a reasonable chance of living up to lofty investor expectations.

... It would appear to me that hybrid vehicle batteries are the biggest near-term opportunity. Although the company didn't specify the customers, it has acknowledged receiving production orders for battery packs. [ more ]

They say that timing is everything. I just wish everything I touched worked out this well. Look at the daily chart for today's trading in ENER. Now that I'm in, hopefully its nothing but up from here (knocking on wood.)

Posted by Mark Anderson at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER) opened up trading this morning with a gap down to the $33 level. For the last hour it has been steadily rising up from this point.

As I said in my earlier post, I have been looking for a good entry point in this company and feel that the near term support of $33 is an ideal area to place an order. The stock has been on a run for several months and it is always hard to take a new position in a stock that has already seen dramatic increases in a stock price. When this happens I have learned to look for short term pullbacks, or a retest of support lines to start new positions.

The fear (and potential downside) is that the support will not hold and you could be looking at a very big loss. This is where you need to look back at the fundamentals of the company. There is alot of good news about the future of this company, and the most recent earnings announcement points to several optimistic opportunities to look forward to.

"...Cobasys' success in winning purchase orders for its proprietary NiMH battery system solutions for the automotive markets is another big plus for our business," continued Stempel. "Cobasys' ongoing work in hybrid vehicle prototype development will hopefully lead to more opportunities down the road."

"ECD Ovonics is well positioned to capitalize upon the current government and consumer focus on new sources of energy," Stempel said. "We're extremely pleased with the pace of production and shipments at United Solar Ovonic. In the fourth quarter, we manufactured a record level 5.7MW of products with a sales value of $18 million and we're now running essentially at our rated production capacity of 25MW." [ more ]

I purchased shares this morning in both the mutual fund and my personal portfolio at an average price of $34.75.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a registered investment advisor. The information and trades that I provide here are for informational purposes only and are not a solicitation to buy or sell any of these securities. Investing involves substantial risk and you should evaluate your own risk levels before you make any investment. Past results are not an indication of future performance. Please take the time to read the full disclaimer here.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER) announced quarterly results on Monday. They beat Wall Street expecations with a less than expected loss, but did not meet sales estimates. They posted a loss of $6.9 million, or 23 cents per share, for the three months ended June 30, compared with a year-ago loss of $11.5 million, or 44 cents per share. The company's loss from continuing operations was 22 cents per share. Wall Street estimates on the loss were 26 cents a share.

The stock is currently trading down over 4% in pre-market trading. I have been looking for a good entry point on this stock and will see how trading continues throughout the day.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) announced receipt of a $1,050,000 contract with the U.S. DoE for the further development of its Bipolar Nickel Metal Hydride energy storage battery.

These 2nd generation prototype test units, rated from 150 Volts, 20AHr to 500 Volts, 6AHr, will be constructed and tested at EEEI, and subsequently delivered to Sandia for further testing. Units of this size have potential applications for utility, wind, solar and customer side load regulation and back up power. [ more ]

This stock has been in a long term down trend and this contract was a much needed win to help the company turn the down trend around. The stock is currently trading up nicely with a 20% gain today on the news. A quick look at the long term chart of this company shows that this move may be a potential bounce off the $4 low.

I have been recently looking at all the stocks I cover in this sector and have been specifically looking at the companies that have not been moving over the last couple of weeks. Today this stock decided to make its move due to the announcement. I added this stock to my potential buy watchlist today and will do some further research into the fundamentals for a potential purchase.

Posted by Mark Anderson at 04:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arotech Corporation (ARTX) announced that its Electric Fuel subsidiary has received a follow-on contract from an Israeli security agency for its new generation zinc-air batteries. Under the terms of the contract, Arotech's Electric Fuel subsidiary will continue to develop prototype zinc-air cells to achieve extended flight times for Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs).

Electric Fuel's cutting-edge zinc-air cells for MAVs are high-power, lightweight versions of its most advanced zinc-air cells. The Company has already demonstrated that its zinc air batteries extend the mission duration of these reconnaissance aircraft. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arotech Corporation (ARTX) announced that its Battery and Power Systems division has received additional funding from the U.S. Army's Communications and Electronics Command, CECOM, for further development of its 4th generation (Gen4) zinc-air cells.
The funding covers Phase II of a three-phased research and development program for Gen4 Zinc-Air Cells aimed at the Future Force Warrior project - the U.S. Army's flagship Science and Technology initiative to develop and demonstrate revolutionary capabilities for Future Force soldier systems. Arotech's Gen4 portable battery pack is 12 or 24 Volts and has a total capacity exceeding 400Wh with Battery Energy Density above 300Wh/kg. The second phase of the program will focus on the development of a pilot production capability. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

SatCon Technology Corporation (SATC) announced that it was chosen to supply its grid-tied Starsine inverter for a ZBB Energy Corporation installation demonstrating the benefits of applying energy storage to existing transmission and distribution congestion problems. The project is one of only three selected by the California Energy Commission (CEC) and U.S. Department of Energy to showcase market-ready energy storage technologies as solutions to the growing problem of congestion on the state's power grid. The installation will be located at a PG&E substation. When completed, the system will improve transmission and distribution reliability and allow for the continued use of the existing transmission and distribution system without costly system upgrades. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arotech Corporation (ARTX) announced that its Electric Fuel Battery subsidiary has received from the US Army's Communications and Electronic Command (CECOM) a new contract to supply up to $24 million in zinc-air batteries and adaptors to the DoD over the next three years. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ultralife Batteries Inc (ULBI) has been awarded a new production contract for its BA-5390/U battery valued at approximately $7.4 million, by the U.S. Defense Department. This contract is independent of the Next Gen II, Phase IV five-year battery contract for the BA-5390 and four other rectangular military batteries, which the company was awarded in December 2004. Deliveries under this $7.4 million contract are required to be completed by May 14. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ZAP (ZAPZ) is currently exhibiting its unique multi-function portable battery to the global marketplace at the CeBIT trade show in Hannover, Germany, March 10-16, 2005.

ZAP's Portable Energy division has developed a flexible, multi-use battery for electronic products that deliver up to four times the power of typical batteries, to charge or power a variety of devices, including cell phones and laptops. ZAP is a worldwide technology leader in efficient transportation, offering gas-powered vehicles such as the Smartcar, as well as electric cars and personal transportation products. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ENER1 INC (ENEI) has established and equipped a pilot nanotechnology-based manufacturing facility to fabricate electrodes for high discharge rate, lithium-ion batteries. The company's battery subsidiary, EnerDel, Inc., in which Delphi Corporation holds a 19.5% interest, is in discussions with automotive OEMs regarding evaluation of samples for use in hybrid electric vehicles where the high discharge rate characteristic is viewed as key to performance and cost. EnerDel also plans to explore applications of this technology in other markets. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) announced it has successfully integrated its patented bipolar battery design with lithium ion technology to achieve a multi-cell prototype battery with increased discharge efficiency, reduced weight and volume, more flexible design, and lower manufacturing costs.

This achievement combines, for the first time, proven bipolar wafer cell design with gel polymer electrolyte-based lithium ion (Li-ion) technology. The bipolar Li-ion (BP Li-ion) cells have the same positive attributes as Electro Energy's bipolar nickel-metal hydride (BP Ni-MH) design, which typically provides up to 50% more power, 30% lower volume and 25% lower manufacturing costs than competing technologies. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arotech Corporation (ARTX) announced today that its Battery and Power Systems Division has received a pilot order for its new 4th generation man portable Zinc Air battery packs from the US Air Force.

Developed and manufactured by its Electric Fuel Battery Corporation subsidiary, Arotech's new battery pack is a 12 or 24 Volt battery with a total capacity of over 400Wh and Battery Energy Density of approximately 300Wh/kg. The new battery pack is optimized for use in vests, as man portable tactical radios are typically vest-worn in holsters. The pack is also designed for use in rucksacks. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 07:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Arotech Corporation (ARTX) announced that its Batteries and Power Systems Division has received a second development contract from a major US agency. Under the contract, Arotech's Electric Fuel Battery Corporation subsidiary will develop prototype zinc-air batteries for small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to achieve extended flight times. The funding is expected to cover development costs. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 09:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ZAP (ZAPZ) unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell powered pickup as well as a new lithium battery technology at the Consumer Electronics Show. ZAP is forming a new division of the Company to focus on advanced energy technologies alongside its efforts to market advanced transportation.

ZAP's fuel cell technology partner, Anuvu Incorporated, converted the Nissan Frontier 4-door pick-up truck on display at CES. An innovative hybrid fuel cell system powers the vehicle on hydrogen and electricity. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 12:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

ZAP (ZAPZ) is at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to unveil its new battery system to one of the world's largest events for the electronics industry. A pioneer in electric cars, scooters, bicycles and other advanced transportation technologies, ZAP is establishing an energy division for the advanced energy technologies it has been developing for cars and packaging it for the electronics industry. [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 02:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) announced it has received approval for listing on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market. The company's common stock is expected to begin trading on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market on December 31, 2004 under the symbol "EEEI." [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Electro Energy Inc (EEEI) announced that the Fiscal Year 2005 budget for the U.S. Department of Energy, signed earlier this month by President George Bush, provides $2 million for the continued development of bipolar nickel- metal hydride batteries for energy storage applications.

"The funding provided by the U.S. Congress in the 2005 DOE budget will allow us to continue the development of batteries for utility energy storage applications, including power regulation, and bulk energy storage..." stated Martin Klein, Electro Energy's CEO. "This source of funds is a significant complement to the funds we have raised in our recent private placement, which are being used to expand our manufacturing capabilities and marketing of nickel-metal hydride battery systems to commercial and government customers." [ more ]

Posted by Mark Anderson at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)